East Bay Boys Lacrosse Notebook

Last year, the San Ramon Valley High School boys lacrosse team went 20-3, easily winning the North Coast Section title.
This year, they lost three times in their first six games, but don’t underestimate the Wolves.
They lost eight out of ten starters from last year’s team but still find themselves at 8-6 overall and tied for third at 5-3 in the East Bay Athletic League.
Of their six losses, three of them were by one goal and one was a four-goal loss to St. Ignatius, the second best team in the state.
Not bad for a team that plays four freshmen in the six spots that make up the first two lines of the midfield.
“We’re a team you don’t want to play,” San Ramon Valley coach Peter Worstell said. “Right now, we’re gaining confidence and we’re just looking for some consistency. We feel like we can beat anyone if we show, but we have to go out there and prove it.”
Worstell appears confident, but don’t mistake that for arrogance. He and his team respect every opponent they face, especially in the EBAL.
“We respect everyone in front of us and take everyone seriously,” Worstell said. “The EBAL is tough and won’t be decided until the final game and we respect each and every team. If you don’t show, you’re gonna be on the wrong side of things.”
Patrick Worstell, Michael Tagliaferri, Jordan Weiss and Chase Miller are the four freshmen that play the midfield and they are the core of the young nucleus that continues to get better.
“This is a competitive young group,” Worstell said. “Playing in a league like this does nothing but add character.”
After losing one-goal games in league to Amador Valley and Foothill, the Wolves beat Monte Vista last week, 11-10. The Mustangs were starting to establish themselves as the second-best team, behind De La Salle.
“That was a significant win for us,” Worstell said. “We look at that as a launching pad.”
The Wolves get a chance to avenge the 10-9 loss to Amador Valley as they host the Dons tomorrow night.
Speaking of Worstell’s four outstanding freshmen, they have been invited to Jake Reed’s Blue Chip camp in Maryland. It is the most prestigious individual camp in the country, and these four will be in the new rising sophomore camp.
Worstell’s own camp, California Gold, which runs from July 15-16, is not far behind and is the most highly touted recruiting camp in the West. An invitation must be earned, and it will consist of 108 kids, which will make six teams of 18.
Worstell, who was a four-time All-American at Maryland (three times as a middie, once as an attack) has top notch coaches in attendance to help run the camp such as Dave Pietramala of Johns Hopkins and Dave Cottle of Maryland.
Just before that, on July 12-14, Worstell will run the Be The Best Lacrosse Camp. This camp will have about 250 players and will have 50-60 of the top coaches and players from throughout the country.
Both camps take place at Osage Park in Danville.

Question and Answer with Monte Vista’s Miller

This week I spoke with Monte Vista middie Garrett Miller for a question and answer session. Take a look at what he had to say.

What’s it like night in and night out playing in the ultra-competitive EBAL?

Garrett: Playing in one of the toughest leagues in northern California has been an overall a great experience. Because the EBAL is so competitive it gives me a chance to potentially play lacrosse at the next level. We play each team in EBAL twice, and every game is a different challenge. We might lose to one team, and with each team getting better as the season progresses, the next game is a different story.

What is the hardest part, and what is the coolest part about being a middie?

Garrett: The hardest part is definitely the running. Last year I played mostly defensive middie and that really tires you out. But the coolest part is knowing when you can beat your defender one on one and score a goal.

What will it take to win the NCS title?

Garrett: It will take a lot of heart and teamwork. If we work hard enough as a team and work together we will win NCS.

How did you get into lacrosse?

Garrett: I started playing lacrosse my sophomore year because I wasn’t good at football, and all of my friends played. It looked like such a fun sport and I had always wanted to try. One day over the summer my friends said that I should try and play lacrosse. We played catch and they taught me some of the basics and then when I tried out in the Spring I made the team.

What movies, bands or songs fire you up the most? Does anything inspire you or get you ready for a game?

Garrett: I would have to say the movie 300 gets me fired up, along with any Rage Against the Machine and the song Inch by Inch by Al Pacino.

Rankings

Amador Valley climbs up to No. 2 with San Ramon Valley checking in at No. 3 after a big win over Monte Vista. The Mustangs are fourth followed by Foothill.